Rep. Charles Smileys' Site Feed

Legislation Improving Access to Women's Health Care Backed by Genesee County Lawmakers

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:10:25 -0400

BURTON â�� State Representatives Charles Smiley (D-Burton), Pam Faris (D-Clio) and state Senator Jim Ananich (D-Flint) announced their support for a package of legislation that would improve access to women’s health care, educate women about health care options, support rape survivors and address health care inequities women face. The package of legislation â�� four bills and three resolutions â�� were recently introduced and now await a hearing.

“People across Michigan are demanding that women have better access to health care,” Smiley said. “Many residents voiced their concerns about this issue during our Real State of Our State Listening Tour. My colleagues and I are taking these concerns seriously; we used the wishes of our constituents and developed these bills to promote greater access to women’s health care.”

The package of legislation includes:

â�¢ House Resolution 140, naming May 12-18 “National Women’s Health Week” in Michigan (introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell)

â�¢ HR 138, urging the DCH to promote programs that identify and address inequities in the prevention, treatment and research of diseases threatening women (Rep. Winnie Brinks)

â�¢ HR 139 recommending that the state intensify efforts to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies (Rep. Collene Lamonte)

â�¢ House Bill 4067, requiring all health facilities and agencies to offer emergency contraception to rape survivors (Rep. Charles Smiley)

â�¢ HB 4722, which directs the Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop and disseminate information about emergency contraception, including a description, explanation of use, safety efficacy and availability of emergency contraception (Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright)

â�¢ HB 4721, requiring age-appropriate, medically accurate and objective sexuality education to be taught in public schools (Rep. Jeff Irwin)

â�¢ HB 4260, requiring doctors to give information on breast density and to notify women who have dense breast tissue that they may want to seek further testing (Rep. Winnie Brinks).

“These proposals are a great way to continue addressing the need for increased access to women’s health care in Michigan,” said Faris. “I believe that every woman deserves quality care and a chance at a healthy life. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass these bills.”

Ananich said, â��Health care concerns are personal issues, pocketbook issues and important issues for everyone in Michigan. These measures will help people get the care they need and make the best decisions for them and their family.â��

In the Community

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:22:00 -0400

Reps. Faris, Oakes, Brown, Smiley, Ananich Introduce Plan for Middle-Class Tax Relief

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:17:57 -0400

CLIO â�� State Representatives Pam Faris (D-Clio), Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw), Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), Charles Smiley (D-Burton) and Jim Ananich (D-Flint) today announced the House Democrats’ plan for middle-class tax relief. The bills, based on Michigan’s Middle Class Plan, are focused on restoring tax credits and deductions to middle-class families and repealing taxes on retirees. Legislation included in the plan will relieve the tax burden on Michigan families when next year’s tax season rolls around.

“Tax day is never something people look forward to, but this year it was especially hard for Michigan’s middle-class families and seniors,” said Faris. “Michiganders are struggling to make ends meet, and it’s time Republican legislators recognize this and help us pass bills that will offer relief to those who so desperately need it.”

Last session, the Republican-led Legislature made severe changes to the Michigan tax code punishing middle-class families and seniors, including imposing a tax on retirement income, eliminating the Homestead Property Tax Credit for many families, a drastic cut to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the elimination of the $600 per-child tax deduction and tax credits for charitable donations. These changes were made to fund nearly $2 billion in tax breaks for big corporations, effectively making Michigan’s low-income and middle-class families pay for a handout to big corporations. The new taxes took effect in 2012, and many taxpayers became aware of them for the first time as they filed their state income taxes this year.

“Although the tax increases were set into law by Republicans in 2011, today is the first time many Michiganders have felt their impact,” said Oakes. “Many middle-class families and seniors living on fixed incomes are now experiencing drastic tax increases at a time when they are already overburdened. The tax shift from corporations onto our working families and seniors is unconscionable. This legislation will ensure that we’re not balancing our state budget on the backs of working families and seniors. It will also ensure that our seniors will choose to stay here in Michigan.”

Brown said, “During the House Democrats’ Real State of Our State Listening Tour, we heard from residents across the state tell us how the new tax law is hurting them and their families. We took their concerns to heart, and now we are putting the needs of middle-class Michiganders into action.” Over the past two months, Democratic state representatives heard the concerns of struggling Michiganders during their Real State of Our State Listening Tour. After the tour’s completion, legislators used this feedback to construct Michigan’s Middle-Class Plan, including the following tax initiatives:

â�¢ Repeal the new tax on senior retirement income

â�¢ Require employers to inform employees about the Earned Income Tax Credit

â�¢ Restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent in the first year

â�¢ Restore the Homestead Property Tax Credit

â�¢ Restore the child deduction

Along with these initiatives, the House Democrats pledge to continue fighting against tax increases on the middle class and seniors every time a new, harmful tax is introduced to the Legislature, and to keep Michigan taxpayers aware of the changes through a series of town halls held across the state.

“The Democratic caucus is proposing bills that will benefit families and seniors across the state,” said Smiley. “My fellow Democratic representatives and I will work hard to see they have a chance at passing through the House, and into the Senate.”

Ananich said, “Taking more money out of the pockets of hard-working taxpayers so CEOs get richer hurts our economy and costs us jobs. Our plan is fair and will help families and local businesses.”

Democrats Announce Support for Legislation to Bring Pay Equity to Michigan

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:02:23 -0400

State Representatives Pam Faris (D-Clio), Charles Smiley (D-Burton), Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) announced their support for legislation today to create pay equity in Michigan. Full-time working women in the state make 74 percent as much as their male counterparts, even less than the nationwide gap of 77 percent.

“I am happy to be a part of the Democratic Caucus’ efforts to ensure pay fairness in the workforce,” said Faris. “I look forward to the day when women receive equal pay for equal work. We’ve known since the days of Rosie the Riveter that women make important contributions in our workforce. This is 2013, not 1913.”

Smiley said, â��It is an injustice that women in Michigan make 26 percent less than a man who performs the same job.â��

April 9 is recognized as Pay Equity Day because it is the calendar date by which women catch up to their male counterparts in earnings from the previous year. Women’s groups around the nation use the occasion to highlight the issue of income inequality. Michigan House Democrats are marking the day by introducing a package of bills to bring pay equity to our state. The package includes legislation to:

â�¢ Prohibit an employer from failing to provide equal compensation for work of comparable value for several reasons, including sex

â�¢ Create penalties for employers who pay different wages to men and women who are “similarly situated” â�� employees with similar qualifications, experience, etc.

â�¢ Create a state commission on pay equity

â�¢ Require an employer to provide, at an employee’s request, wage information for “similarly situated employees”

“Putting more money in the pockets of people who work hard to earn it helps our economy and creates jobs,” said Ananich. “These measures are long overdue, and they will provide fairness and opportunities to working families in Genesee County and across Michigan.”

Stanley said, “Women make up half of the U.S. labor force. In order to grow our economy at the national, state and local levels, we need women participating on an even playing field. Equal pay for equal work is not only morally right, but it makes good business sense.”

Reps. Brunner and Smiley Vote No on Equine Liability Bill

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:48:24 -0400

LANSING â�� State Representatives Charles Brunner (D-Bay City) and Charles Smiley (D-Burton) voted against a bill yesterday that would make it more difficult for those injured by way of equine activity to prove negligence on behalf of the horse or facility owner. HB 4126, a reintroduction of a bill that failed to pass the Senate last term, seeks to amend the Equine Activity Liability Act of 1994. The bill would protect equine operations at the expense of recreational riders who become injured by the operator’s negligence.

“There are already extremely high standards in proving an equine operator’s negligence if a rider is injured,” said Brunner. “This bill would only make negligence more difficult to prove, protecting businesses from mistakes that cause harm to their clients.”

This bill is one more example of how the Republicans are attempting to move legislation that is harmful to every-day Michigan residents. There is no reason to make it easier for equine operators to act negligently and get away with it. It is simply harmful to Michiganders.

“There are more important issues to be focusing on in the Legislature right now,” Smiley said. “As legislators, it is our job to make sure Michigan’s laws protect Michigan residents, not those who put our residents in harm’s way.”